Apparatus for inspecting ventilation of filter cigarettes

Abstract

An apparatus for inspecting ventilation of filter cigarettes FT has a plate-like packing 18 a . The packing 18 a covers the opening of a movable cylinder 10 and is relatively pressed with the end face of a filter cigarette FT. The packing 18 a includes a hole 18 c positioned to coincide with the center of the end face against the packing, an inner circular area 18 f surrounding the hole 18 c , and an outer circular area 18 g surrounding the inner circular area 18 f . The outer circular area 18 g is elastically deformed more easily than the inner circular area 18 f and is brought into tight contact with the outer circumferential edge of the end face pressed against the packing.

1. An apparatus for inspecting ventilation of filter cigarettes, comprising:
 a fluid machine for producing pressure difference between both ends of a test-gas transmitting path including at least one end portion of a filter cigarette to be inspected; 
 a measuring instrument provided on the transmitting path, for measuring a quantity of the test gas; 
 a port provided in the transmitting path, for receiving the one end portion of the filter cigarette from one opening end of said port; and 
 a plate-like packing covering another opening end of said port, for being pressed with the end face of the filter cigarette, the packing including a hole positioned in a center thereof, a flat inner circular area surrounding the hole, and a flat outer circular area surrounding the inner flat circular area, the flat outer circular area being elastically deformable more easily than the flat inner circular area, wherein, when a filter cigarette is inspected, the flat inner circular area of the plate-like packing is brought into surface contact with the end face of the filter cigarette, and the flat outer circular area of the plate-like packing is brought into tight contact with the outer circumferential edge of the end face of the filter cigarette. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus for inspecting ventilation of filter cigarettes according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner circular area of the packing is thicker than the outer circular area. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus for inspecting ventilation of filter cigarettes according to  claim 2 , wherein the inner circular area of the packing includes a boss portion that is projecting from an opposite face to a face against which the end face is pressed. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus for inspecting ventilation of filter cigarettes according to  claim 1 , further having a socket assembly, wherein:
 the socket assembly includes: 
 a socket hole that is divided by the packing into a first chamber and a second chamber in a state of accommodating the port, the first chamber receiving a filter portion of the filter cigarette as the one end portion; 
 a seal ring that is spaced from the packing within the first chamber and is capable of airtightly surrounding an outer circumferential surface area of the cigarette in the socket hole by being reduced in diameter when pressed in an axial direction of the socket hole; and 
 a sleeve that is slidably fitted in the socket hole so as to be positioned between the packing and the seal ring and transmits pressure applied to an outer edge area of the packing to the seal ring. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus for inspecting ventilation of filter cigarettes according to  claim 4 , further having a drum, wherein:
 the drum includes an outer circumferential surface on which a transport path for transporting the filter cigarette in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the filter cigarette is defined; and 
 the first chamber of the socket hole receives the filter portion of the filter cigarette being transported on the transport path. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus for inspecting ventilation of filter cigarettes according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the outer edge area of the packing includes an engaging portion in a face on the side of the first chamber, which couples the packing to the sleeve. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus for inspecting ventilation of filter cigarettes according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the fluid machine is a compressor that supplies the test gas having prescribed pressure to the first chamber, and the measuring instrument is a pressure gauge that measures pressure of the test gas in the second chamber. 
 
     
     
       8. An apparatus for inspecting ventilation of filter cigarettes, comprising:
 a fluid machine for producing pressure difference between both ends of a test-gas transmitting path including at least one end portion of a filter cigarette to be inspected; 
 a measuring instrument provided on the transmitting path, for measuring a quantity of the test gas; 
 a port provided in the transmitting path, for receiving the one end portion of the filter cigarette from one opening end of said port; and 
 a plate-like packing covering another opening end of said port, for being brought into close contact and pressed with the end face of the filter cigarette, the packing including a hole positioned in a center thereof, a flat inner circular area surrounding the hole and a flat outer circular area surrounding the inner flat circular area, the flat outer circular area being elastically deformable more easily than the flat inner circular area, wherein, when a filter cigarette is inspected, the flat inner circular area of the plate-like packing is brought into surface contact with the end face of the filter cigarette, and the flat outer circular area of the plate-like packing is brought into tight contact with the outer circumferential edge of the end face of the filter cigarette for providing high sealing performance to reduce the force with which the packing is brought into close contact with the filter cigarette.